Cabinet okays additional Plus One batches for eight districts

The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to sanction additional batches for Plus One course in eight districts having shortage of seats.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the media after the Cabinet meeting that applications would be invited from government and aided schools in Alappuzha, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kollam, Idukki and Kannur districts with ongoing Plus Two courses for the new courses. The shortage of seats was not acute in Kollam, Idukki and Kannur districts.

The Chief Minister also announced that the government would issue non-objection certificates for starting of new CBSE and ICSE schools in the State. However, no lenience would be shown regarding basic infrastructure requirements.

Mr. Chandy said that he would hold discussions with managements of private professional colleges to reach a permanent settlement to issues connected with admissions and free structure immediately after completion this year’s admissions process. The Cabinet sub-committee holding discussions with the managements would broker an arrangement for this year, keeping the interests of students and parents in view.

He said that the India was beginning evacuations of Indians from Yemen on Wednesday and the government would set up control rooms at the Kerala Houses in Delhi and Mumbai and NORKA headquarters in Thiruvanathapuram to help Keralites returning from Yemen.

Trawling ban:

The Chief Minister announced that the seasonal ban on trawling would be enforced from June 15 to July 31 for conservation of fish resources. The fishermen affected by the ban would be given free ration during the period of ban. Besides, the Cabinet had sanctioned Rs. 10 crore for assistance to all fishermen covered under the Savings and Relief Scheme.

Mr. Chandy said that the Cabinet had decided to carry out the unimplemented aspects of the Chengara Package announced by the previous government as part of its agreement with those agitating for land at Chengara. The Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and the Agriculture Minister K. P. Mohan would visit those given land at Periya in Kasaragod district and also in Idukki and Attappady on June 20 towards settlement of the outstanding issues.

Rs. 48 crore would be allocated to the Kochi Corporation for acquisition of land for constructing the proposed over bridge near the Cochin Shipyard as part of building infrastructure needed for taking up Kochi Metro Rail Project. Besides, the Corporation would be given Rs. 11 crore for acquisition of land for its water supply project which needed to be completed by 2012.

The Cabinet had also sanctioned Rs. 15 crore for building 170 twin houses of the 340 families in the Bangladesh colony in Kozhikode. If successful, similar schemes would be taken up in other parts of Kerala coast.

Mr. Chandy said that compensation under calamity relief would be extended to those who die from lightening and snake bites. The next of kin of victims would get Rs. 1 lakh each. The Cabinet had also cleared proposal for increasing compensation for loss of houses from Rs. 35000 to Rs. 1 lakh. The maximum compensation for partial damage to houses would be enhanced from Rs. 20000 to Rs. 35000. The Cabinet had sanctioned Rs. 2 crore for temporary measures against sea erosion.

Permanent anti-erosion measures such as construction of groin structures would be taken up after monsoon.